It proved his freedom from anti-Catholic
prejudices. It made him look icily objective.
Torquemada, on hearing that the prisoner's gold coin corresponded with
those others which had been in the possession of the murdered man,
thought it deplorable. Here was plain evidence of his cousin's guilt!
Most deplorable. Still, the victim being not only a foreigner but a
Protestant was a considerable mitigation of the offence from the moral
and religious point of view, and possibly from the legal one as well.
Anyhow, what did legal aspects matter? Had he not engaged Don Giustino?
Innocent or guilty, the prisoner would be released. And, on second
thoughts, he discovered him to be worthy of the great man's golden
eloquence. He was not altogether a fool. There was a touch of manliness
about him; he was decidedly a brighter lad than he looked. He deserved
to be released.
Ten o'clock sounded.
The Court had never been so crowded. There was barely standing room.
Sunlight poured in through the windows which had not been cleaned for
many long months; the atmosphere was already rather oppressive.
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